Archive for the Category »Blogging Etiquette «

I enjoy reading other blogs, seeing what changes bloggers are making to their sites and watching the growth of my blogging buddies.

I like to see other bloggers succeed and it thrills me when I see comments stacking up on their blog posts.

I know the blog author is ecstatic, but sadly my name isn’t always in that list of commenters. call me a hypocrite post graphic Call Me A Hypocrite

Sometimes, time is not on my side.

Today’s Lesson

I wrote a blog post in 2008 which discussed blog etiquette. One of the items I included in the list was,

If someone visits your blog, and leaves a comment, make time to visit their blog as well. It’s common courtesy. If you cannot identify with their most current post, dig through their archives and find one you can leave a short comment on.

In the beginning, I did that. Religiously.

Each time someone commented on my blog, I visited them, subscribed and reciprocated with a comment, too.

The number of blogs in my reader was growing and I began to spend more of my blogging time visiting and commenting.

As I added more bloggers names  to my “New Blog Of The Week” series, my reader began to bulge with new blog posts. (The series ended with 90 bloggers being showcased.)

More times than I can count, due to time constraints, I would “mark all as read” and start fresh.

When following blogs in my reader didn’t work anymore, I switched my tactic and went back to trying to visit everyone who commented on my posts.

Unfortunately I couldn’t keep up.

I had broken my own rule, and I felt shame.

I felt like a hypocrite.

If I knew then (when I wrote the blog etiquette post) what I know now, I would have worded that differently, or added a disclaimer* and said, “if time permits”.

It’s not that I don’t care when you post something new, it’s that my time is needed elsewhere.

Thus, if you don’t see me commenting on each of your posts, know it’s not you. It’s me.

You’re never far from my thoughts, and fortunately I know right where to find you. 8)

That said, I understand if you’re in the same position and don’t have time to read my posts and/or comment here.

Today’s Assignment

Do you reciprocate each comment you receive on your blog?

When time is short, do you skip commenting or have you found a technique which allows you to do it all?

Care to share?

signature for blog post

*I’ll be adding a link to this post.

Photo of brightly colored ballons

“I’m late for the party”, is how many will start a comment if they are commenting a day or two after a post is published.

It almost sounds like an apology.

To a blog author, the “party” never ends, but person commenting may feel their comment won’t be seen.

In fact, because of this, some won’t comment.

Today’s Lesson

One reason we may end up being late for the party is because Your Today Is My Tomorrow.

We’re talking about time zones.

In the comments on the Blogging Etiquette post, Wilma who blogs about Bridging the gap between Knowing and Doing pointed out,

…when posting [publishing in a different time zone] some people can never be the first commenter.

That’s true. If our post goes public at noon our time, it could be 2 a.m. the next day on other parts of the globe.

Wilma’s comment raises a second issue.

Does the order in which we comment make a difference?

I’ve read how being the first one to comment can be extremely beneficial. It’s gets our name out there and those who comment after us may click on our name, thus driving more traffic to our site.

That leads to the next question, “If we end up being the last to comment, will our words of wisdom be all for naught?”

Today’s Assignment

For Wilma, I’ll ask, “Should we consider our blogging friends in different time zones and publish at different times once in awhile? ”

Do you see a benefit in being the first one to comment on a post?

If you arrive “late” on a post, will you comment or do you just move on?

signature for blog post.


Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

photo of small thank you card for blog etiquette post
The term “blogging etiquette” might suggest we HAVE TO follow some type of rules when we blog.

That’s not the case, at all.

A blog can be anything we want it to be and we can act however we choose while online.

To me, blogging etiquette equates to taking the time to writing responsibly, showing respect to other bloggers and caring how I am viewed in blogosphere.

Today’s Lesson

When I wrote the post, Blogging Etiquette, – The Unwritten Rules, I expanded on what I saw as blogging etiquette and included things such as,

  1. Write original articles
  2. Check and recheck your grammar and spelling
  3. Give credit where credit is due
  4. If you comment on other blogs, do not alienate the author with derogatory comments.
  5. If you allow comments, let your commenters know you have read what they wrote (even a short thank will do)

Just as there’s a certain decorum in real life situations, and all of our actions can have consequences (good or bad), the internet is no different. It’s just the audience is much larger.

Based on what you see in blogosphere, here is your chance to write the wrongs.

Today’s Assignment

If a book was being written on blogging etiquette, what you you like to see included?

Raise your hand and share your thoughts.

signature for blog post.

lorelle of wordpress logo 300x215 Interview With Lorelle VanFossen   Part 6   Lets Woop It UpAnyone who has followed this blog knows I’m a stataholic who loves to analyze statistical (blog) tracking programs. A new one, named Woopra, has been added to my list. As luck would have it, Lorelle (of Lorelle on WordPress) knows Woopra better than most.

Here’s her explanation in detail.

6) In a recent email from you, you mentioned you are now the editor-in-chief of the Woopra blog/zine. Can you explain what Woopra is and how it can benefit bloggers?

is the most exciting software technology I’ve stumbled across in a very long time and I’m so thrilled to be a small part of it. Woopra is a web analytics program that reports on your blog traffic, but it is more than that. Woopra is installed on your computer as Java software, running in the background, and links to your blog through a JavaScript which can be installed manually or through the Woopra WordPress Plugin.

Woopra is different for many reasons, way beyond its purpose as a web analytics program. Primarily because it has the most beautiful software interface. It’s lovely. Woopra also tracks your blog statistics live – right now. As they are happening. There is also a live chat feature that allows you to start a conversation with visitors on your blog while they are visiting your blog. They need to do nothing more than accept your invitation to chat, no special software provided. Bloggers are having so much fun with this, even holding contests inviting people to visit and chat and handing out prizes.

When someone registers with your blog or leaves a comment, their name is storied in a cookie which Woopra can read. Woopra then changes the Visitor #34503 to “Sally Jones” – and the anonymous visitor now becomes a person moving through your blog. You can tag them and create a custom event notification so you will be alerted the next time they visit, and can track their visits over time.

One user told me that they didn’t like that Woopra was raising the accountability standards. “I can’t tell so-and-so that I visited their blog when I didn’t. They can guilt-trip me by saying, ‘I checked Woopra and you haven’t been by in six weeks!’ No more lying!” We all laughed, but I see Woopra changing the face of the web in many ways, through instant monitoring of visitors, live chats, and customized tracking.

Right now, Woopra is free for beta testing, but only by private invitation only. There are more than 25,000 beta testers, and more approvals may be coming, so you can sign up and wait, but be patient. If you get approved, you will be expected to monitor the Woopra Forums and comment and report on bugs and feature requests.

For those currently using Woopra, we are inviting our beta testers to guest blog on the about how they are using Woopra and web analytics to help them blog. We’re also looking for articles on how blog and web stats change and influence your blogging behavior – especially when it comes to social networking. How we work and use the web for our business and social life is measurable, but how do the numbers really change your experience and usage. Email me if you are a Woopra member and interesting in contributing.

Today’s Assignment

In the past I’ve written posts titled Confusing Blog Stats – Is a Visit A Visit?, Page Views Are Over Rated and in Blogging – Year One – Lesson 4, I share what I learned from stats.

Although it’s easy to get addicted to checking our statistics, much can be learned from them. Dig past the initial numbers and hoards of useful information lies beneath.

How close do you look at your statistics?

Do you know where your traffic is coming from?

Are your keywords/keyword phrases working?

What are your statistics telling you?


Woopra is an awesome statistical program. Want to become a beta tester? It’s easy. Go to Woopra.com and sign up.


Photo Credit: Lorelle’s Logo

Photo Credit: tell me what you saw’s photos
1514594837 3fee9e1732 Blogging Etiquette   The Unwritten Rules

For those who don’t know what etiquette is, I will quote part of Wikipedia’s definition:

Etiquette, one aspect of decorum, is a code that governs the expectations of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class, or group. Usually unwritten, it may be codified in written form. Etiquette usually reflects formulas of conduct in which society or tradition have invested.

That sounds like a mouthful, but in short, etiquette is the act of behaving properly in certain situations. Many say proper etiquette of any kind is becoming a lost “art”. Whereas, others don’t realize proper etiquette exists.

When we start blogging, we may not think about blogging rules, or blogging etiquette. With some, it shows. Meanwhile, others question if there is a right or wrong way to blog, concerned they do the right thing.

Not to say a blog must comply with “XY&Z” in order to succeed, I do think there should be some checks and balances when it comes to blogging. We can call it blogging rules, blogging etiquette, or just plain common courtesy/common sense.

Today’s Lesson

Reflecting on 11 months of blogging, this is what I find could constitute blogging rules/etiquette:

1) Write original articles. Do not plagiarize/steal/copy someone else’s content or ideas. Putting a new spin on a subject is one thing, but downright copying someone else’s ideas is not right. If you can’t think of something to write about, don’t publish until you do.

2) Give credit where credit is due. If what another blogger wrote inspires a post, make mention of the post, and create a link back to your inspiration.

3) Check and recheck your grammar and spelling. Although some typos may slip through, try your hardest to provide a post with proper grammar and spelling. Your blog is a reflection on you and your credibility. If need be, have someone proofread for you.

4) If you allow comments, let your commenters know you have read what they wrote. A short thank you is sufficient, however, comment sections often end up being the “meat” of the post. If you’re not going to have time to answer comments, you may think of closing the comment section. (turn comments”off”)

5) If you prefer commenters do not get “off subject” (writing about an issue unrelated to the post), create a “comment rules’ page to inform your readers about your desires. Either post a sentence above your comment section, or provide a link to your comment rules. Comments often go off subject, so be prepared.

6) If you leave a comment on another blog, try to add value to the post/topic. Saying “great post” is not value. If you can’t find something valuable to say, don’t comment. Often two and three word comments will be considered as spam, and subsequently deleted by the author. Try to avoid “off topic” comments unless you know the blog author allows them. As a footnote, on this blog, I allow off topic comments and questions.

7) If you comment on other blogs, do not alienate the author with derogatory comments. Your comment is a reflection of you. Negative comments can decrease your chances of receiving visitors from other sites. Negative comments may lead to having your blog boycotted (unknowingly).

8.) If a reader/visitor contacts you via email or through your contact page, answer the email as soon as possible.

9) Do not “spam” another blogger or blog, . Overusing the name of another blogger in comments and/or posts is often considered “content” or “comment spam”. For more great reading on blog spam, read a great article written by Catherine, titled: “The New Spam – How Do We Deal With It”

10) Prior to publishing your post, check your links. Consistently providing dead or 404 links is frustrating to your readers, and can lead to a loss of credibility.

11) When commenting, unless a link is relevant to the post, do not insert one. This is also considered “spam”, and most bloggers will avoid clicking on them.

12) If someone visits your blog, and leaves a comment, make time to visit their blog as well. It’s common courtesy. If you cannot identify with their most current post, dig through their archives and find one you can leave a short comment on.

13) If someone leaves a negative comment on your blog, do not feel obligated to leave it in your comment section. A negative comment can change the dynamics of the other valuable comments. Delete it or mark it as spam. It’s your blog.

14) Do not comment on another blog without reading the title and the complete post. A poorly written, off subject comment leaves others wondering “what are they on?”, again, reducing your credibility.

Blogging is a hobby that connects us with others from all over the world. Be courteous, be kind and most of all, have fun.

Today’s Assignment

Can you think of anything to add to this list?

Do you try and practice blogging etiquette?

How do you feel when others don’t? Blogging Etiquette   The Unwritten Rules

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